Since its early days as a government-funded magazine in Montreal, VICE has expanded into a media empire that includes film production, a record label, books, TV series and a huge Internet presence. With ample web series and previous forays into the small screen via MTV and HBO, the company now looks to explore traditional television with its own cable network, VICELAND.The channel, available on Time Warner, Dish, DirecTV and most providers, hasn’t been active for a month yet but already boasts an impressive lineup of original content — all on-brand with VICE’s punk approach to news, entertainment and culture. And it’s 24-hours. No infomercials!Gaycation (10 p.m. Wednesdays) – Actress Ellen Page and her BFF Ian Daniel travel the world to explore LGBTQ culture in different countries. This week finds them roadtripping from Iowa to New York.Balls Deep (11 p.m. Wednesdays) – Longtime VICE contributor Thomas Morton plants himself in the lives of various groups of people, providing a slice-of-life look at their jobs, customs and subcultures. In this week’s episode, Morton chills with native Alaskans.F*ck, That’s Delicious (10 p.m. Thursdays) – Rapper Action Bronson eats his way across the globe while on tour with his highly entertaining crew. His background as a chef gives him culinary cred; his unpretentious, just-came-to-eat attitude gives him a likeable edge over stuffier foodie hosts. Flophouse (10:30 p.m. Thursdays) – Documenting the frattish houses that double as performance spaces where up-and-coming comedians across the country crash and create new material.Vice Guide to Film (9 p.m. Fridays) – Actors, writers and directors pay homage to some of today’s greatest filmmakers, including Werner Herzog, Todd Haynes, Quentin Tarantino and David Fincher.Noisey (10 p.m. Tuesdays) – VICE’s music docuseries looks at how different cities’ music scenes are influenced by their stars — Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross and Major Lazer.
Weediquette (11 p.m. Tuesdays) – America’s changing relationship with weed presents a number of new considerations, like medical marijuana for cancer therapy, sick children and PTSD treatment and the role it plays in the criminal justice system. Krishna Andavolu investigates.
WEDNESDAY 23
Broad City (10 p.m., Comedy Central) – The girls travel to Abbi’s hometown of Philly, where they try to make amends for a mistake Abbi made in high school. Also: Tony Danza plays Abbi’s dad!THURSDAY 24
Baskets (Season Finale, 10 p.m., FX) – The family is shaken my Mama Baskets’ diagnosis; Chip caves and starts working at Arby’s. Are curly fries diabetes-friendly?SUNDAY 27
MONDAY 28
RuPaul’s Drag Race (9 p.m., Logo) – The queens serve neon realness and perform live as ’80s New Wave trios. Guest judges include Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein.
TUESDAY 29
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (10 p.m., FX) – Cochran and Bailey track down the Fuhrman tapes — recordings in which the officer uses racial slurs and describes police brutality — for Judge Ito to consider as evidence.
CONTACT JAC KERN: [email protected], @jackern
